AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES

Commercial Presence in China
  • Foreign audiovisual service suppliers may establish contractual joint ventures with Chinese partners to distribute audiovisual products, excluding motion pictures.
  • China maintains the right to examine the content of audio and video products.
Presence of Natural Persons in China
  • Managers, executives, and specialists of a representative office, branch, or subsidiary in China, temporarily moving as intra-corporate transferees, will be permitted an initial stay of three years.
  • Managers, executives, and specialists of foreign-invested enterprises in China will be granted a long-term stay permit as stipulated in the terms of contracts concerned or an initial stay of three years, whichever is shorter.
  • Service salespersons who are not based in China, and who meet certain other conditions set out in China’s services schedule, are limited to a 90-day stay.
Cross-Border Supply of Services
  • The cross-border supply of audiovisual services is not subject to market access restrictions and is accorded national treatment.
Consumption of Services Abroad
  • The provision of audiovisual services outside of China is not subject to market access restrictions and is accorded national treatment.
Acquired Rights of Foreign Service Suppliers
  • The conditions of ownership, operation, and scope of activities for an existing foreign service supplier, as set out in the supplier’s contract or shareholders’ agreement or in a  license establishing or authorizing the supplier’s operation or supply of services, will not be made more restrictive than they were on December 11, 2001.
Other Commitments
  • China will permit the importation of 20 motion pictures annually for theatrical release on a revenue-sharing basis, subject to compliance with China’s regulations on the administration of films. 
  • Foreign cinema theater service providers may construct and/or renovate cinema theaters, with a maximum foreign investment of 49 percent.

December 2001
Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
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